Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-09-08
IHE Kiss IN HIsToRY.
Curious Customs Obtaining In Many For
lions OF the Globe.


lions OF the Globe.
There was an old belief that unless =
maiden was kissed under the mistletoe
at Christmas she would not be married
during the ensuing year.
When Fox was contesting the hard
won seat at Westminster the beautiful
Duchess of Devonshire offered to kiss
all who voted for the great statesman
In the ceremonial of betrothal kisS
has played an important part In several
nations A nuptial kiss in church, at
the conclusion of the marriage service,
is solemnly enjoined by the York Mis-
sal and the Sarum Manual.
The beautiful Lady Gordon, when
the ranks of the Scottish regiments had
been sadly thinned by cruel Badajos
and Salamanca. turned recruiting SER
geant, and, to tempt the gallant lads
placed the recruiting shilling in her
lips, whence each who would might
take il with his own.
In Finland, according to Bayard
Taylor, the women resent as an insult
a salute upon the lips. A Finish mat
ron, hearing of our English custom of
kissing, declared that did her husband
attempt such liberty she would treat
him with such box on the ears that he
should not readily forget.
In Wesley's journal, dated June 16,
1853, is given the following description
of a duel between two officers at Linn
erick: "Mr. B. proposed firing at
twelve yards, but Mr.. j. said: No, six
is enough So they kissed one another
g., hot fIax
PAGES asunder both fired at the in
slant"
The Code of Justinian says ''that if
a man bothered a woman by kiss and
either party died before marriage the
heirs were entitled to half the dona-
tons and the survivor to the other
half; but if the contract was made
without the solemn kiss, the whole of
the espoused gifts must be restored to
the donors and their heirs-at-law.
The MOhammedans, on their pious
pilgrimage to Mecca, kiss the sacred
black stone and the four corners of
the aspergillum, and Palm Sunday the
palm. Kissing the Pope's toe was a
fashion introduced by one of the Leos,
who, it is said, had insulated his right
hand, and was too vain to expose the
stump.
In Iceland kissing had deferred pen
alties of great severity. For kissing
another mans wife, with or without
her consent, the punishment of exclu-
sion, or its pecuniary equivalent, was
awarded. A man rendered himself liza
BILE for kissing an unmarried woman
under legal guardianship without her
consent, and, if the lady consented,
the law required that every kiss should
be wiped out by fine of three marks
equivalent TO one hHndred and forty
ellis of wadE,al-a quantity sufficient to
furnish whole ships crew with pilot
jackets.
In Russia the Eastern salutation is a
kiss. Each member of the family
salutes the other; chance acquaintance
on meeting kiss; principals kiss their
employees; the General kisses his Off
GERS; the officers kiss their soldiers;
the Car kisses his family, retinue.
court and attendants, and even his
officers on parade. the sentinels at the
palace gates, and a select party of
private soldiers-probably elaborately
prepared for this ''royal salute" In
other parts the poorest serf, meeting 4
high-born dame in the street, has but
to say, Christ is risen." and he will
receive kiss and the reply, ''He has
risen, truly"
Home, in his quaint old liable
Book" gives an account of a curious
Did kissing festival held in Ireland
Easter Monday several hundred
young persons of the town and neigh .
of Potsferry, County Down,
resort, dressed in their best. to
pleasant walk near the town, called
The Waller The avowed object of
Zach person is to see the fun, which
consists in the men kissing the females
without reserve, whether married or
single. This mode of salutation is
quite a matter of course; it is never
AIKEN amiss. nor with much show of
,ovness. The female must be ordinary
indeed who returns home without hav-
ng received at least a dozen hearty
,usses. "-ChicdgO Tribune.